Garsington big-fish hunter Richard Simmons got his new coarse fishing season off to a flying start with a cracking 6lb 8oz chub from the River Stour.

Simmons took a week's holiday to fish a stretch of the famous river near Bournemouth.

On the first three days, he caught only dace on his maggot and caster feeder rig to 6lb line, but then he struck it rich on day four.

Fishing maggot on the hook, he struck into the big chub which took him all over the swim before he was able to slip the net under his personal-best prize.

Said Simmons: "I had to play the fish for about ten minutes and when I saw it, I was shaking with delight. It was a day I will always remember."

Another local angler, Terry Jupp, also enjoyed a dream start to the new campaign.

Fishing a local stretch of the River Cherwell, the Oxford printer had two barbel on luncheon meat. An eight-pounder was followed by a cracker of 10lb 10oz.